The International Federation of Mixed Martial Arts – FIMMA – was officially established this Wednesday in Athens, with representatives from nearly 50 countries and regions participating through their National Olympic Committees and national MMA federations. The new organisation aims to deliver unified global governance for the sport and to advance the institutional process required to achieve future recognition by the IOC, a necessary step before any potential Olympic participation.
The meeting held in Greece, the historic home of sport and the Olympic Movement, provided the platform to define a model built on transparency and global collaboration. According to its founders, FIMMA is grounded in principles focused on athlete safety, technical excellence and international cooperation, aligned with the expectations set for federations seeking integration into the Olympic system.
A new chapter for Mixed Martial Arts
Gordon Tang, President of the Asian Mixed Martial Arts Association – AMMA –, promoted the creation of FIMMA following the introduction of MMA as a medal sport in major continental events across Asia. Tang stated that “today marks the beginning of a new chapter for mixed martial arts, with global representation demonstrating the commitment needed to bring this sport to the Olympic Games.” He was joined by Isidoros Kouvelos, President of the Hellenic Olympic Committee, who acted as co-founder of the federation.
The founding event received support from Olympic leaders across several continents. Abraham Tolentino, President of the Philippine Olympic Committee, endorsed the initiative, while Keith Joseph, President of CANOC, noted that “we look forward to collaborating with FIMMA and to the day when MMA is included in Caribbean multi-sport competitions, creating opportunities for our young athletes.” In addition, Spyros Capralos, President of the European Olympic Committees, emphasised that “in a sport growing as rapidly as MMA, it is essential that FIMMA safeguards athlete welfare and promotes good governance.”
Structural expansion and international cooperation
FIMMA has initiated discussions with continental bodies such as the European Olympic Committees, the Association of National Olympic Committees of Africa, the African Union Sports Council and the Caribbean Association of National Olympic Committees, with the aim of supporting the gradual inclusion of MMA in future continental events. Technically, the federation is collaborating with GAMMA, in addition to strategic partnerships such as the one established with Jue Cheng King, currently one of the most influential combat sports events in China.
These initiatives form part of a wider effort to develop a structured system of regional, continental and international competitions. FIMMA intends to offer athletes and federations a clear pathway from grassroots participation to professional opportunities, strengthening competitive progression and calendar coherence.
Next steps
In the field of education and development, FIMMA announced a cooperation agreement with the International Olympic Academy to launch a comprehensive programme for coaches and referees. The initiative aims to raise the technical standards of the sport through advanced coaching methodologies, consistent officiating criteria and enhanced safety protocols aligned with Olympic values. The federation will adopt a ruleset based on the Asian model, which removes cages and rings in favour of an open field of play and reinforces medical, anti-doping and athlete protection procedures.
FIMMA will now focus on onboarding new members and developing its roadmap toward IOC recognition, a key requirement for any future Olympic inclusion. Its Director General, Galastein Tan, highlighted that “our mission is clear: to put athletes first and to build the structures required for MMA to integrate into the international multi-sport system.”
